Variable-speed power-transmitting device.



Nb. 7s1,27s. PLATENTED J'AN.'31, 1905.

A. B. FOWLER.

VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1901.

} 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No.-781,278. PAT-ENTED JAN.31,1905.

A. B. FOWLER, VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1901.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 029 Y 1 g Mary/w mg /17 v I F/gf/A Wjfii. WE

PATENTED JAN. a1, 1905.

, A. B. FOWLER. VARIABLE SPEED POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1901.

4 SHEETSBHEET 3 fX f- W VARIABLE S PAIENTED JAN. 3.1, 1905. A. B.FOWLER.

PEED POWER TRANSMITTING DEVI-GE.

APPLIOATIOII FILED JULY 2,1901. v

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITE STATES f Patented January 31, 1905;

PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED BQFOWLER, CENTRAL FALLS, RIIODE ISLAND.

VARIABLE-SPEED POWER-TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,278, dated January31, 190.5.

I Application filed July 2, 1901- Serial No. 66,916

I To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, ALFRED B. FOWLER, a

' citizen of the United'States, residing at Cenvariable-speedpower-transmitting device.

The object of my invention is to produce a device adapted to beinterposed between the source of power' and the driven member by virtueof which the speed of the driven member may be varied at the will of theoperator;

' ing in the direction of the arrow.

A further object is to produce a device by which the speed of the drivenmember may be uniformly varied as desiredthat is to say, by virtueofwhich the speed'of the driven member may be gradually and progressivelyincreased and decreased at will.

A further object is to embody into one de vice means not only forvarying the speed of the driven member from zero to the maximum, butwhereby the driven member may be held stationary.

A further object is to produce a device by virtue of which the speed ofthe driven member may be varied, brought to zero, reversed, and variedinthe reverse direction.

To the above ends the present invention consists in the devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred form of myinvention, Figure l is a plan view of the. device with parts omitted.'Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking toward the right-hand end of Fig. lwith parts removed. I Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. I is a plan, and Fig. 5 isan elevation, of a portion of the apparatus, illustrating thelink-supporting yokes and the devices for varying the position of theblocks in the links. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 1, look-Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is v an elevationof one of the clutches. Fig. 9

is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig.- 8 looking in the direction of thearrow. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of one of the clutches, andFig. 11 is a transverse section on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10.

The presentinvention is particularly designed andintended for. use inautomobiles,

although it is by no means limited to such use.

In the following description and claims I have therefore particularlypointed out the various functions of my device, emphasizing theirimportance in connection with automobiles;

but is is not intended that the claims should be limited to devicesforuse in connection withautomobiles, as the device may be used in otherconnections, either in whole or in part, where the functions-of thedevice are useful.

Broadly stated, my invention contemplates a driving member'running at auniform speed and a driven member adapted to be rotated in eitherdirection and at any speed within the desired limitations. My inventioncontemplates the use of a motor preferably provided with a governor, sothat it shall have a uniform speed irrespective of the demands of thedriven member for a greater or less amount of power. driving memberconnected with any suitable source of power and the driven memberadapted to be driven at variable speed is my improved variable-speedpower-transmitting device. It will be recognized by those skilled 'intheart that it is desirable in automobile construction to operate theengine at a constant speed and yet absolutely to determine the speed ofthe vehicle. By my improved power-transmitting device I am enabled ab-Interposed between the solutely to regulate the speed of the drivenmember to prevent it from running faster or slower than desired, tobring it to .rest, and to hold it at rest, all without-varying the speedof the driving member. In other words,

by the use of my device the engine once started can run continuouslywithout inter-' ruption, the vehicle can be started, propelled forward,stopped, reversed, stopped, and always held at the desired speed withoutdanger of running away or rolling by gravity on grades. Thus the vehiclemay be stopped while going up or down hill by bringing the speed of thedriven member to zero, and the vehicle will be held there irrespectiveof the that the speed of the vehicle may be regulated with precision andnot be varied by large increments or decrements. It is obvious that manyor all of these desirable qualities in a variablespeedpower-transmitting device are useful in other connections than inautomobile construction.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the driving-shaft 1 isdriven from any suitable source of power and may be either themotor-shaft or a shaft driven from the motor. The driven shaft 2 isadapted to be driven from the driving-shaft through the means to bedescribed at the desired speed in either direction. The eccentric-shaft3 is driven from the driving-shaft through the gears 4 and 5. Upon theend of the driven shaft 2 is mounted the pinion 6, which meshes with theplanetary pinion 7, mounted upon the spider 8, (see Figs. 6 and 7 theplanetary pinion in turn engaging the internal gear 9, carried by thegear 10, which is revolubly mounted upon the driven shaft 2 and mesheswith the gear 11, secured to the eccentricshaft 3. The spider 8 issecured to and mounted upon the variable-speed shaft 12, hereinafter forconvenience called the spider-shaft, which is driven from theeccentric-shaft at a variable speed, but preferably always in the samedirection. The gear 9 is driven at a uniform speed and the spider 8 at avariable speed, with the result that the driven shaft 2 is driven at avariable speed in either the one or the other direction, depending uponthe speed of the spider-shaft 12. Connections are provided between theeccentric-shaft 3 and the spider-shaft 12, by means of which the speedof the latter is accurately regulated. Assuming that the driving-shaft 1rotates in the direction of the arrow 13, then the eccentric shaft 3will rotate in the direction of the arrows 1 1 and the internal gearwill be rotated in the direction of the arrows 15, and this rotation ofthe internal gear in the direction of the arrow 15 will tend to carrythe spider-shaft in the same direction indicated by the arrow 17. Thespeed at which the spid er-shaft will be rotated will depend upon thespeed of the driven shaft. If the driven shaft be stationary, thespidershaft will have a speed of rotation which for the sake ofconvenience I will call throughout this specification the stationaryspeed. When power is to be imparted to the driven shaft to cause thesame to rotate in a forward direction, the speed of the spider-shaftmust be reduced below the stationary speed. I have therefore providedmeans for controlling the speed of the spider-shaft, so as to apparatus.

compel it to rotate in the direction of the arrow .17 at such a speed asto secure the desired speed of the driven shaft. The proportions of thevarious gears illustrated in the accompanying drawings are such that byincreasing the speed of the spider-shaft the speed of the driven shaftwill be diminished until it comes to rest and then revolves in a reversedirection at a graduallyincrcasing speed until the maximum speed of thespider-shaft is reached, when the maximum reverse speed of the drivenshaft will be attained. I have thus provided for reversing the directionof rotation of the driven shaft without reversing the direction ofrotation of any of the shafts by which it is driven. Furthermore, itwill be noted that the greater the forward speed of rotation of thedriven shaft the less the speed of the spider-shaft, until at themaximum speed of the driven shaft the spider-shaft will come to rest.The connections between the eccentricshaft 3 and the spider-shaft 12, bymeans of which I accomplish these results, will now be described.

Upon the eccentric-shaft 3 are mounted three eccentrics 18, 18", and 18,which are arranged with their centers at one hundred and twenty degreesto each other. Eccentricstraps 19 are provided for each eccentric, eachstrap being pivoted to a slotted link 20, secured to yokes 21, pivotedin turn upon short shafts 22, mounted in bearings 23, supported bystands 24 and 24, mounted upon any convenient portion of the framesupporting the Each link 20 carries a sliding block 25, to which ispivoted a connectingyoke 26, in turn pivoted at its opposite ends to theclutch members 27, loosely mounted upon the spider-shaft 12.Oscillations imparted to the links 20 by means of the eccentrics in turnimpart oscillations to the clutch members 27. The amplitude ofoscillation of the links 20 is constant. By moving the blocks 25 in thelinks 20 the amplitude of oscillation of the clutch members 27 may bevaried. The blocks 25 are provided with means for moving them in theslotted links 20. These means consist of the screws 28, which arerevolubly mounted at one end in the bearings 29 and at the other end inthe bearings 30, supported from the stands 24 and 24, a universal joint31 being provided at the center of oscillation of the yoke 21. Thescrews 28 are provided with beveled pinions 32, which meshwith beveledgears 33, mounted upon the shaft 34:, carried by the bearings in thestands 24 and 2 1. By turning the shaft 34C in one direction theamplitude of oscillation of the clutch members 27 can be increased ordiminished from a maximum when the blocks 25 are at the upper ends ofthe links 20 to a minimum of zero when the blocks 25 are opposite theaxis of the short shaft 22. The

speed of the spider-shaft depends upon the amplitude of oscillation ofthe clutch mema predetermined speed. Each of these clutches oppositedirections.

consists of two clutches adapted to operate in For convenience I willcall one of these clutches the forward clutch and the other the reverseclutch,

which names are indicative of which clutch is normally in operationduring the forward and reverse movements of the driven shaft; Inasmuchas these two clutchesope rate in opposite directions, it is necessarythat one of them should be held out of operation at certain times, aswill be hereinafter explained. i

Referring particularly to Figs. 8, 9,10, and

11, the clutch member 27 is j provided on its inner side with aclutching-surface consisting of a steel ring, preferably hardened,

which is secured to the'shell of the-clutch member by'the screws 36.

agonal in general form and adapted to cooperate with six cylindricalrolls, springs 39 be.-

. ing provided to hold'the rolls in proper position. The rolls 40 aremembers of the forward clutch and the rolls 41 are members of thereverse clutch, the springs 39 being secured to the clutch member 38 ina position acting normally to press the rolls 40 and 41 in oppositedirections toward the positions which they assume when they act toclutch the'clutch members 38 to the clutch members 27. The arrow 42 onFig. 11 indicates the direction of oscillation of the clutch member 27,which corresponds to a forward movement of the clutch member'27, duringwhich said clutch member, in a manner hereinafter pointed out,

operates to compel or-perm'it the spider-shaft 12 to rotate in the samedirection. The means lar 44 is provided withgrooves 45, which areengaged by a pin 46, passing through the spider-shaft 12. Whenlongitudinal .movement is imparted to the collar44, said collar iscaused to turn on the spider-shaftl2 be-' cause of the inclination ofthe groove 45 to the axis of the spider-shaft 12. The collar 44 isprovided with a circumferential groove 47, into which the pins ofthefork 48 project'and by which the longitudinal movement of the collaris produced. The fork 48 is pivotallymounted upon a stud 49, projectedupward I Secured to the spider-shaft are the clutch members 38, hexl,'

from the stands 24*. The opposite end of the fork 48 is provided with apin, which engages .the cam-groove 50 in the cam 51, mounted v The cam51 reciprocates the collar 44 so as to cause the fin upon theeccentric-shaft 3.

gers43 toengage'the forward clutch-rolls 40 at certain predeterminedtimes to prevent them from clutching the clutch member 38 to the clutchmember 27. Thecam 51 is so timed with relation to the oscillations ofthe clutch member 27 that the fingers 43 hold the forward clutch-rolls40 inoperatix e during all movements of the clutch member except themiddlelparts of its forward movements. In other words, the forwardclutch is inoperative at all times except during the time its eccentriois in the middle of its working stroke,

when it will clutch together the two clutch members 27 and 38, providedclutch member 27 tends to rotate faster than clutch member 38 when it ismaking its forward stroke. For

instance, during the time the eccentric 18 is making one -th1rd of arevolution, during which its correspondingclutch member 27 is vehicle isstanding still on a level road. The I engine having been started and thespider-' shaft being driven at such a'rate of speed that'the drivenshaft is stationary, let the speed-controlling shaft 34 then be turned.by

any suitable means to move the blocks 25' toward the axis of the shaft22, when the I amplitude of oscillations of the clutch members27 willthereby be decreased, the forward clutches will reducethe speed of thespidershaft, and as a consequence the driven shaft will begin to rotateand to propel the vehicle forward. screws for moving the blocks 25 theamplitude of oscillation of the clutch members 27 may be graduallyincreased or decreased and that in starting the vehicle the speed willgradually and smoothly increase. During forward motion of the vehiclethe rotation of internal gear 9 tends to carry forward in the directionof the arrow 17 the spider-shaft 12, owing to the resistance to rotationoffered by the pinion 6 upon the driven shaft, and each forward clutchwill successively and through successive thirds of revolutions of-theeccentric-shaft hold the spider-shaft from revolving faster than thespeed of the clutch members-27 during their forward movements. Thistendency of the spider-shaft to run It is tobe'noted that by providingahead will at these times wedge the rolls 40 between the clutch members38 and 27, and the speed of the spider-shaft will thereby be held fromexceeding the speed of the clutch members 27. By moving the blocks 25downward in the links 20 the speed of the vehicle will graduallyincrease until the blocks 25 reach the bottoms of said links 20, inwhich position the blocks coincide with the axis of the shafts 22, whichis the axis of oscillations of the links 20, so that in this conditionthe spider-shaft will be held stationary and the driven shaft will berotated at the maximum speed for which the apparatus is designed. Thecondition of the parts and their operation remains the same in runningon a level and running uphill. As soon, however, as the vehicle beginsto descend a grade the driven shaft will tend to rotate in the directionin which it was before driventhat is to say, in the direction of thearrows 16. Under these circumstances the spider-shaft 12 instead oftending to rotate in the direction of the arrow 17 will tend to rotatein the opposite direction. The forward clutches will therefore fail toclutch, as clutch members 38 tend to rotate in the direction opposite tothat indicated by the arrow 42. The reverse clutches, however, will comeinto operation, the springs 39 forcing the reverse clutch-rolls 41 intoposition so that said rolls will be engaged be tween the clutch members38 and 27, and the forward motion of the clutch members 27 will, throughthe medium of the reverse clutches, drive the spider-shaftin the forwarddirection. Inasmuch as the speed of the driven shaft 2 can be increasedonly by decreasing the speed of the spider-shaft, it is evident that aslong as the blocks in the links 20 remain in the same position the speedof thespider-shaft and driven shaft will be constant. If the speed ofthe spider shaft be increased, the reverseclutches being all the timeoperative, the speed of the driven shaft will be decreased until finallyit becomes Zero, when the spider-shaft is rotating at what I have calledits stationary speed, and the vehicle comes to rest. In this conditionit will be noted that the driven shaft will be heldstationary and thatthe vehicle is as positively held from motion, either by pushing orpulling, as if it were braked. This is also true if the vehicle bestopped going uphill, as well as going downhill, in the former casetheforward clutches acting to prevent the natural tendency of the spider'-shaft to rotate in the forward direction at a greater rate of speed thanthat compelled by the clutches and in the latter casethat is, standingstill on a downgrade-the reverseclutches acting to drive thespider-shaft at the correct speed to maintain the driven shaftstationary. It is therefore evident that in going forward on a level,upgrade, standing still on a level and on an upgrade, and backingdownhill the conditions are the same namely, with the forward clutchesoperating" and that in going reverse on a level, forward downhill,backing uphill, and standing still facing downgrade on a downgrade theconditions are alikenamely,with the reverseclutches in operation.

It is to be noted that when the reverseclutches are in operation thepresence of the forward clutches is entirely immaterial, as they have atthat time absolutely no effect upon the operation of the apparatus, and,conversely, the reverse-clutches are without effect when the forwardclutches are in operation.

While 1 prefer to cause the spider-shaft to rotate always in the samedirection, my invention contemplates a construction in which thespider-shaft is rotated either in the one or the other direction, as maybe desired. Moreover, while I have described my apparatus as embodying aplanetary-gearing system my invention is not limited thereto, as othergearing systems with suitable changes in speeds of the parts couldreadily be substituted therefor.

It is to be noted that in the construction illustrated in the drawingsthe major part of the power transmitted through my apparatus to thedriven shaft is transmitted through whatI have termed theeccentric-shaft,whi he only a very minor part of such power istransmitted through the spider shaft and the clutches. 1 consider thisthe most desirable arrangement, as it relieves the clutches of the dutyof transmitting large amounts of power and it relieves them of thestresses and strains incidental thereto. My invention, however, in itsbroader aspects is not limited to such division of the power into partswhich are applied to the driving-shaft through different channels, butcontemplates, broadly, the use of asystem of gearing and a system ofclutches constructed and arranged to transmit power to a driven shaft atvariable speeds and in either direction. Furthermore, it is to be notedthat my device is by no means limited to use in automobiles, but iscapable of being used in various places where the power consumed must beapplied either in the forward or reverse direction and at a variablespeed, determinable at the will of the operator.

1n some of the accompanying claims 1 have used the expressionclutch-driving shaft and power-shaft to designate the shaft whichthroughout the specification .l, have termed the OCCGllbllC-Sllttft, andby such term l intend to define a driving member operatin to drive theclutches. l have also used the expression clutch-shaft to designate whatI have termed in this specification the spidershaft, and I intendthereby to define a member rotated or permitted to rotate by theclutches and connected with a member on the gearing by which the drivenmember is actuated.

lt is to be noted that the clutch-shaft might be directly connected withthe apparatus desired to be driven and in automobile con- 1. Avariable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination, aclutch-shaft, a series of double-acting clutches mounted on said shaft,a clutch driving-shaft and means actuated by said shaft for preventingthe operation of the clutches in one direction, substantially asdescribed.

2. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having,in combination, aseries of doubleac'ting clutches, said clutches comprising two clutchmembers and a plurality of rolls arranged to lock said members together,lingers arranged to engage one set of rolls to prevent the locking ofthe two clutch members together and means for intermittently actuatingsaid fingers, substantially as described.

3. A variable-speed power-transmitting devlce, having, in'combination, adriven shaft, a

driving-shaft, an eccentricshaft, a clutchshaft, gears connecting theeccentricshaft with the driving-shaft, planetary gearing between theeccentric-shaft and the clutch-shaft and the driven shaft, clutches onthe clutchshaft, slotted links carrying blocks connectedwiththeclutches, and eccentrics on the ec' centric-shaft connected withthe slotted links, substantially as described.

4. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination, aclutch-shaft, a series of clutches on said shaft comprising clutchmembersloosely mounted upon said shaft, connecting members, and clutchmembers secured to said shaft, means for actuati ing the loosely-mountedclutch members, and automatic means for intermittently preventing theclutches from operating during successive aliquot parts ofa revolutionof the clutch-shaft, substantially as described.

series of intermittently acting oscillating clutches thereon, a clutchdriving-shaft, connections between the clutches and the clutchdriving-shaft, and automatic means for rendering the clutchesinoperative, the clutches of the said shafts, and the said automaticmeans acting to disconnect the clutches from the clutch-shaft during thereverse oscillation of the clutches, substantially as described.

6. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,adriven shaft, a

driving-shaft, a clutch -shaft, a clutch drivingshaft, gearingconnecting the clutch drivingshaft with thedriving-shaft, gearingconnecting the clutch-shaft and the driven shaft, the

clutch-shaft comprising a variable-speed member, and connections betweenthe clutch driving-shaft and the clutch-shaft acting to control thespeed of the clutch-shaft, substantially as described' 7 Avariable-speed powertransmi tting-de vice, having, in combination, adriven'shaft, a driving-shaft, a clutch driving-shaft, a clutchshaft,gearing connecting the driving shaft with the clutch driving-shaft,gearing con necting the clutch driving-shaft and the clutchfshaft withthe'dri'ven shaft comprising a va- 'riable-speed member connected to theclutchshaft, oscillating clutches on the clutch-shaft and connectionsbetween the clutch drivingshaft and the clutches acting-to impart oscillations of various amplitude to the clutches on the clutch-shaft,substantially as described.

8. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination, adriven shaft, a power-shaft, gearing between the driven shaft and powershaft including a clutch shaft, double-acting clutches on saidclutch-shaft and connections between the power shaft and clutch-shaftacting to preventthe clutch-shaft from rotating faster than a givendetermined rate of speed or to drive said clutch-shaft, sub stantiallyas described. y 9. Avariable-speed power-transmitting device, having, incombination, a driven shaft, a power-shaft, gearing between the drivenshaft and power-shaft including a clutch -shaft, double-acting clutchesmounted on said shaft,

and means for rendering one set of said clutches inoperative at alltimes except a certain pordevice, having, in combination, a drivenshaft,

a power shaft, gearing between the driven shaft and power-shaftincluding a clutch-shaft, a series of forward and reverse clutches mounted on said clutch-shaft comprising clutch mem- I bers fixed to theclutch-shaft and oscillating 5. A variable-speed power-transmittingdevice, having, in combination, a clutch-shaft, a

clutch members loosely mounted, upon said clutch-shaft, means connectingsaid oscillating clutch members with the power-shaft and for varying theamplitude of oscillation of said clutch members, and means for renderingthe forward clutches inoperative at all times except during the middlepart of the forward, motion of said clutch members, substantially asdescribed.

11. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a driven shaft, an internal gear loosely mounted upon the driven shaft,means for rotating said internal gear at a uniform rate'of speed, agearmounted upon and secured to the driven shaft and a pinion interposedbetween said internal gear and said fixed gear, and a series ofdouble-acting clutches for regulating the speed of revolution of saidpinion about the axis of the driven shaft, substantially as described.

12. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a driven shaft, a gear mounted upon and fixed to said shaft, an internalgear revolubly mounted upon said shaft, a pinion meshing with said fixedgear and internal gear, means for rotating the internal gear at aconstant speed, means permitting or compelling the pinion to revolveabout the fixed gear in one direction and at a variable speed, saidmeans comprising a shaft, a series of double-acting clutches mountedthereon, means for actuating said clutches and means for rendering oneset of said clutches inoperative at all times except aliquot portions ofthe revolution of the pinion about the fixed gear, substantially asdescribed.

13. A Variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a driven shaft, a gear fixed thereon, a pinion mounted to revolve aboutthe axis of said driven shaft, an internal gear adapted to engage thepinion, means for rotating the internal gear at a constant speed, meansfor revolving the pinion at a variable speed comprising a series ofoscillating doubleacting clutches, means for holding one set of saidclutches inoperative successively for aliquot portions of a revolutionof said pinion about the axis of the driven gear, and means foractuating the clutches having provision for varying the amplitude ofoscillation of said clutches, substantially as described.

14:. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a driven shaft, clutches, and means for actuating them, said clutchesacting intermittently to positively determine at all times the speed anddirection of rotation of the driven shaft, substantially as described.

15. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a power-shaft rotating in one direction and at a constant speed, anintermediate shaft rotating in one direction, means connecting thepower-shaft and the intermediate shaft acting to transmit power to orfrom the latter and to vary the speed of the intermediate shaft or tohold it from rotation, a driven shaft, and connections between theintermediate and the driven and the power shafts acting to drive thedriven shaft in either direction and at a variable speed, substantiallyas described.

16. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a drivingshaft, a driven shaft, and a plurality of oscillating clutchesactuated by the driving-shaft, one of said clutches being operativelyconnected with the driven shaft at all times, and acting to determinethe speed ratio of the said shafts, substantially as described.

17. A variable-speed power-transmitting shaft, a driven shaft, and aplurality of oscillating clutches actuated by the driving-shaft, one ofsaid clutches being always o1 )erati\'ely connected with the drivenshaft, said clutches acting simultaneously to cause the d riven shaft torotate and to limit its speed of rotation, substantially as described.

18. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a drivingshaft, a driven shaft, and a plurality of oscillatingdouble-acting clutches actuated by the driving-shaft, one of saidclutches being always operatively connected with the driven shaft andacting to determine the speed ratio of the said shafts, substantially asdescribed.

19. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a drivingshaft, a driven shaft, and :a series of oscillatingsuccessively acting double acting clutches actuated by thedriving-shaft, one of said clutches being always operatively connectedwith the driven shaft, and acting to determine the speed ratio of thesaid shafts, substantially as described.

20. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch driving-shaft, a driven shaft, gearing connecting thedrivingshaft and driven shaft, and a series of oscillating double-actingclutches connected with the driven shaft and actuated by thedriving-shaft operative through variable arcs to vary the speed of thedriven shaft, substantially as described.

21. A variablespeed power-transmitting device, having, in combination, aclutch-shaft normally tending to rotate, forward clutches mountedthereon acting intermittently and successively to prevent theclutch-shaft from rotatingforwardly faster than a given speed, and meansfor actuating the clutches, substantially as described.

2.2. A variable-speed powertransmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch-shaft normally tending to rotate, forward clutches mountedthereon acting intermittently and successively to prevent theclutch-shaft from rotating forwardly faster than a given speed,

reverse clutches mounted thereon acting to prevent the clutch-shaft fromrotating slower than the given speed, and means for actuating theclutches, substantially as described.

23. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a drivingshaft, adriven shaft, gearing between the d ri ving-shaft andthe driven shaft, and unyielding variable-speed power connectionsbetween the driving-shaft and the driven shaft, acting in connectionwith said gearing to vary the speed of the driven shaft progressively ineither direction from zero to a maximum, substantially as described.

24. A variable-speed power-transn1itting device, having, in combination,a drivingshaft, adriven shaft, toothed gearing between device, having,in combination, a drivingthe said shafts, and variable-speed powerconnections between the shafts serving to transmit power without lostmotion between the shafts and to vary their relative speed and dircctionof rotation progressively,substantially as described.

25. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a drivingshaft, a driven shaft, toothed gearing between thedriving-shaft and driven shaft, and positively acting oscillatingclutches. connected with the driving-shaft and driven shaft acting todetermine the speed of the driven shaft, substantially as described.

26. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a drivingshaft, a driven shaft, toothed gearing between thedriving-shaft and driven shaft including a variable-speed member, andmeans for posi connections between the eccentrics and the clutchesacting to vary the throw of the clutches, substantially as described.

28. A variablespeed power transmitting device, having, in combination, adriven shaft,

' a driving-shaft, a clutch driving-shaft, a clutchshaft, gearsconnecting the clutch drivingshaft with thedriving-shaft, planetarygearing between the clutch driving-shaft and the clutch-shaft and thedriven shaft, clutches on the clutch-shaft, and mechanism for actuatingthe clutches from the clutch driving shaft having provision for varyingthe throw-of the clutches, substantially as described.

29. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch-shaft, means normally tending to rotate saidsh'aft onedirection, a series of doubleacting clutches connected with theclutch-shaft acting to vary the speed of the said shaft, and means foractuating said clutches, substantially as described.

30. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a clu tch-shaft, controllable means normally tending to rotate saidshaft in one direction, a series of successively-acting clutches andmeans for actuating them acting to control the rate of speed of theclutch-shaft, substantially as described.

31. A- variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a driven shaft, an eccentric-shaft and means for rotating it, aclutch-shaft, a series of forward clutches mounted thereon, a series ofreverse clutches mounted thereon, eccentric-straps on thecocentric-shaft connected with the clutches and adjusting mechanism forregulating the throw of the clutches, substantially as described.

32. A variablespeed power-transmitting device, having,'in combination,aclutch-shaft, forward clutches mounted thereon, reverse clutchesmounted thereon, automatic means for preventing-the forward clutchesfrom operating and means for actuating the clutch members, substantiallyas described.

33. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch-shaft, a clutch mounted thereon comprising a member fixed tothe clutch-shaft, a connecting member, and a member revolubly mountedupon the clutch-shaft, and automatically-operated means for renderingthe connecting member operative during a portion of ,the

forward stroke of the revolubly-mounted clutch member, and means foroscillating the clutch'member, substantially as described.

84. A variable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination,a driven shaft, a gear mounted upon and fixed to said shaft, an internalgear revolubly mounted upon said driven shaft, a pinion engaging saidfixed gear and internal gear, means for rotating the internal gear at aconstant speed, means for positively regulating and compelling thepinion to revolve at any desired speed from zero to a maximum,substantially as described.

35. Avariable-speed power-transmitting device, having, in combination, adriven shaft, a driving-shaft, positive-motion power connections betweenthe driving-shaft and driven shaft, and positive motion variable speedpower connections between the drivingshaft and the driven shaft,including forward clutches and reverse clutches, acting in connectionwithsaid power connections to drive the driven shaft, said clutchesbeing constructed so that one set of clutches, as the forward clutchesor reverse clutches, shall be automatically rendered inoperative whenthe other set is operative, substantially as described. v

86. A variable-speed powertransmitting device, having, in combination, adriving-shaft, a driven shaft, and positive-motion power connectionsbetween the driving shaft and the driven shaft, including a plurality ofdriving and retarding clutches, acting automatically so that at alltimes at least one driving and one retarding clutch is operative,substantially as described.

37. A variable speed power transmitting device,having,incombination,adriving-shaft, a driven shaft, positive-motion powerconnections between the driving-shaft and the driven shaft, includingforward clutches and reverse clutches, the forward clutches beingautomatically thrown into operation during forward rotation of thedriven shaft against resistance and thereverse clutches beingautomatically thrown into operation during forward motion of the drivenshaft against no resistance and during reverse motion of the drivenshaft against resistance, substantially as described.

38. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a driving-shaft, a driven shaft, a variable-speed shaft, a differentialgearing having elements rotatably connected with the said shafts, meansfor preventing the variable-speed shaftfrom rotating faster than adetermined speed ratio with respect to the driving-shaft, and a seriesof intermittently-acting driving-clutches, actuated by connection withthe driving-shaft, for causing rotation of the variable-speed shaft,substantially as described.

39. A variable speed powertransmitting device, having, in combination, aclutch drivingshaft, a driven shaft, toothed gearing between thedriving-shaft and the driven shaft, serving to transmit the power fromthe driving-shaft to the driven shaft during the rotation of the drivenshaft in one direction, and a positively-acting variable-speedpower-transmitting device comprising intermittently-acting clutchesbetween the driving-shaft and the driven shaft, serving to transmit thepower from the driving-shaft to the driven shaft during the rotation ofthe driven shaft in the opposite direction, said variable-speed deviceacting to determine the speed of the driven shaft and its direction ofrotation, substantially as described.

40. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch-shaft, a clutch mounted thereon comprising a member fixed tothe clutch-shaft,a connecting member, and a member revolubly mountedupon the clutch-shaft, means for oscillating the revolubly-mountedclutch member, and means antomatically operated for rendering theconnecting member alternately operative and inoperative duringsuccessive strokes of the revolubly-mounted clutch member, substantiallyas described.

41. A variable speed power transmitting device comprising avariable-speed shaft, a driving-shaft, driving-clutches by means ofwhich the driving-shaft drives the variablespeed shaft, andretarding-clutches tending to retard the variable-speed shaft andaccelerate the driving-shaft, and means automatically operated forcausing the retarding-clutches to act only while rotating in the samedirection as the variable-speed shaft, substantially as described.

42. A variable speed power transmitting device,having, in combination,adriving-shaft, a driven shaft, a differential gearing of which twoelements are connected with the said shafts respectively, andconnections between the third element of the said gearing and thedriving shaft comprising oscillating variablethrow clutches,substantially as described.

43. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch driving-shaft, a clutch-controlled shaft, an oscillating clutcharranged to prevent the clutchcontrolled shaft rotating faster than theoscillation of the clutch, and automatic means for rendering the clutchinoperative while oscillating in the direction opposite to the rotationof the clutch-controlled shaft, substantially as described.

44. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch-controlled shaft, an oscillating clutch arranged to preventrelative rotation of the clutch and the clutch-controlled shaft ineither direction, and automatic means for releasing the clutch from theclutch controlled shaft during oscillations in one direction,substantially as described.

45. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch driving-shaft, a clutch-controlled shaft, aseries ofoscillating double-acting clutches mounted on the latter and actuated bythe former, the said clutches being provided with driving elements andretarding elements, one of each of which is always in action, andautomaticmeans for rendering inoperative the retarding elements duringreverse oscillations of the clutches, substantially as described.

46. A variable speed power transmitting device,having,in combination, adri ving-sha ft, a driven shaft, a differential gearing of which twoelements are connected with the said shafts respectively, andconnections between the third element of the said gearing and the driving-shaft comprising oscillating clutches for driving the saidelement and means for retarding the same, substantially as described.

47. A variable speed power transmitting device,having,incombination,adriving-shaft, a driven shaft, a differential gearing ofwhich two elements are connected with the said shafts, respectively, andconnections between the third element of the said gearing and thedriving-shaft comprising double-acting oscillating clutches, means forvarying the throw of the said clutches, and automatic means forinterrupting the action of the clutches during reverse oscillations,substantially as described.

48. A variable speed power transmitting device, having, in combination,a clutch driving-shaft connected with a source of power, an internalgear rotatively connected with the same, planet-gears engaging theinternal gear, a driven gear engaging the planet-gears, a spidercarrying the planet-gears, a clutchshaft to which the spider isrotatively connected, oscillating clutches for rotating theclutch-shaft, and variable-throw mechanism connected with the clutchdriving-shaft and the clutches for operating the latter, substantiallyas described.

4:9. A'Variable speed power i transmitting bers with the intermediateshaft, substantially device',having,in oombinatiomadriving-shaft, asdescribed. I

a driven shaft, a variable-speed shaft, a dif- In testimony whereofIaffix my signature in ferential gearing having elements rotatablypresence of two Witnesses. 5 connected with the said shafts,positively-ac- ALFRED B. FOWLER.

tuated variable speed members actuated by Witnesses:

the driving-shaft and frictional means for ro- ALFRED H. HILDRETH,tatively connecting the variable-speed menu FRED O. FIsH.

